Agenda and minutes

A motion moved by Deputy Billy Dove that Deputy Joyce Nash take the chair until the conclusion of Item 4 (Election of Chairman) was agreed.

Apologies were received from Alderman Vincent Keaveny and Deputy Roger Chadwick.

There were no apologies.

To note the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 21 April 2016, appointing the Board and setting its Terms of Reference.

Members received the Order of the Court of Common Council appointing the Board for the ensuing year and setting its terms of reference.

RECEIVED

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29.

The Town Clerk read a list of names of Members eligible to take the chair, in line with Standing Order 29. Ian Seaton, being the only Member expressing a willingness to serve, was elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

The Chairman took the opportunity to thank Member for their support.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30.

The Town Clerk read a list of names of Members eligible to be Deputy Chairman in line with Standing Order 30. Deputy James Thomson, being the only Member expressing a willingness to serve, was elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 24 February 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2016 were approved as a correct record, subject to Professor Michael Whitehouse’s name being recorded correctly.

To appoint the Bursary Committee for the ensuring year – to comprise the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board and up to five other Governors.

The Bursary Committee for 2015/16:-

Ian Seaton (Chairman)

Deputy Dr. Giles Shilson (Deputy Chairman)

Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines

Edward Lord

Sylvia Moys

Deputy Joyce Nash

Dame Mary Richardson

[N.B. The Sub Committee met once during 2015/16.]

The following Members were appointed to the Bursary Committee for the ensuing year.

·         Ian Seaton (Chairman)

·         Deputy James Thomson (Deputy Chairman)

·         Deputy the Reverend Stephen Haines

·         Edward Lord

·         Sylvia Moys

·         Deputy Joyce Nash

·         Dame Mary Richardson

To appoint a representative to the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools for the ensuing year.

Edward Lord was appointed the Board’s AGBIS representative for the ensuing year.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

Governors considered a report of the Head that proposed the creation of a number of Committees to consider areas of business within the remit of the Board. In response to a suggestion from the Chairman, Members agreed to delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to advertise vacancies to the various Committees of the Board outside of meeting, and appoint members to them according to their skills and experience.

Governors then considered a summary of the outreach work undertaken by the school, and the following comments were made.

·         The Head noted that the school had been cited as an example of best practice during Ofsted inspections at other schools.

·         A Governor welcomed the partnership working between the school and the Institute of Education.

·         The Head confirmed that risk assessments were carried out prior to boys undertaking volunteering opportunities.

Governors then considered a proposal outlined within the report for the school to conduct exploratory discussions with the City of London Corporation around the potential for franchising abroad and the following comments were made.

·         The Head noted that the number of international schools abroad was a growing market with a lot of potential. A number of legal frameworks for operating franchised schools had been developed, which reduced the risk to school brands.

·         A Governor noted that despite the developing market, franchising retained elements of risk and therefore any proposal should be approached with caution. Should it be pursued, it would likely require the creation of a dedicated post within the school.

·         A Governor noted that franchising had been considered by the school a number of years previously, but the proposal had not been pursued at that time given the reputational risk to the City of London Corporation.

·         A Governor noted that criteria to assess reputational

Report of the Director of Community and Children Services.

Governors received the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) 2015/16 Annual Report. In response to a query from a Governor, the LADO confirmed that there had been an increase in referrals from across all City Schools compared to previous years, but the majority had been of a nature that could be dealt with within the organisation involved, and the increase reflected improved mechanisms to capture incidents that qualified for referral.

RECEIVED

There were no questions.

There was no other business.

MOTION - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED, that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2016.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2016 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Chamberlain.

Governors received a report of the Chamberlain on financial forecasts for 2016/17 and estimated school reserves balances.

RECEIVED

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

Governors considered a report of the Head.

There were no questions.

The Chairman raised three items of urgent business.

Report of the Head of the City of London School.

Governors considered a confidential safeguarding report.